Angelo Badalamenti, Composer on Twin Peaks and David Lynch Collaborator, Dies at 85

For viewers tuning in to Twin Peaks back in 1990, they were greeted each week by the gentle opening composed by Angelo Badalamenti who died at the age of 85. A family member confirmed the news on Instagram writing, “My great uncle Angelo Badalamenti has crossed the barrier onto another plane of existence.” The Hollywood Reporter confirmed Badalamenti died of natural causes. Badalamenti was born in Brooklyn, New York on March 2, 1937, and took an interest in music early on, eventually earning a degree in music at the Manhattan School of Music.

His first credited soundtrack was on Gordon’s War under the name Andy Badale. In 1986, Badalamenti began his long-time collaboration with director David Lynch when he did the music for the 1986 noir mystery movie, Blue Velvet. Badalamenti will go on to work with Lynch many times over his career on movies like Wild at Heart, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, Lost Highway, The Straight Story, Mulholland Drive, and Rabbits.

Along with doing the music for the 1990 hit TV series Twin Peaks, Badalamenti returned to create music for the 2017 revival, Twin Peaks: The Return.

Aside from his many collaborations with Lynch, Badalamenti created music for films like A Nightmare on Elm Street 3, Cabin Fever, and the video game Indigo Prophecy. His compositions are known for fusing a variety of influences ranging from classical to electronic. His melodies can be uplifting and peaceful, or dark and twisted depending on the song, and it’s helped set the stage for many of Lynch and other directors’ memorable projects.

Badalamenti’s family member wrote on Instagram, “Between his work on Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks, Cabin Fever, Nightmare On Elm Street 3 and a plethora of others, plus his relationships & collaborations with David Bowie, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, Nina Simone, Julee Cruise, Isabella Rosselini, Dolores O’Riordan, Anthrax, Dokken, Eli Roth, and especially David Lynch, he has always been the most interesting man in the world to me.” “A true musical and artistic inspiration for me and countless others. Stay true to his roots and family, never leaving North Jersey for LA…

He will truly be missed by many.” Matt T.M. Kim is IGN’s News Editor.

You can reach him @lawoftd.

(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)